The UK has the potential to install tens of gigawatts (GW) of tidal and wave power capacity, according to a new report from the Crown Estate designed to help predict the future growth of the marine energy industry.

The Crown Estate today unveiled the findings of a new study into the UK's potential marine energy resource, which show that there is the potential to harness up to 153GW of tidal power capacity in the UK, using three types of technology.

Meanwhile, there is the potential for 27GW of wave energy capacity, which could produce 69TWh of electricity a year.

However, the report stresses that the figures for different technologies should be read separately and that the results are theoretical.

Rob Hastings, director of the Crown Estate energy and infrastructure portfolio, said the report was designed as a reference to help inform the development of the industry.

"While the science of wave and tidal resource assessment is still emerging, and future work will clarify the resources that are practically available, it is clear that wave and tidal energy could contribute substantially to the UK's electricity needs.," he said.

"Improving understanding about the extent and locations of resources will help to accelerate development in a sustainable way."

In related news, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, yesterday visited the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney and hailed the potential growth of wave and tidal power.

"[EMEC is a huge asset to the development of wave and tidal energy in the UK and has helped secure UK leadership in the global market," he said.

"The UK has the largest wave and tidal resource in Europe, which could produce 20 per cent of current UK electricity demand and cut carbon emissions."